In Master Zhou’s room, two maids knelt and worked busily. One took a tea brick and roasted it over the charcoal fire, while the other crushed the roasted tea brick into pieces.
On the low table, various tea utensils were neatly arranged, and the room was filled with the rich fragrance of tea.
Master Zhou added a spoonful of salt to his tea and, without waiting for it to be fully stirred, drank more than half of it in one go. The spicy, grassy flavor immediately dispelled his fatigue.
“That wretched girl,” he said, slamming the tea bowl down heavily. “Claiming she can heal but won’t, saying she won’t heal but then does—who does she think she’s fooling?”
The maids kept their heads lowered, not daring to make a sound.
“She’s doing this out of revenge,” Master Zhou muttered to himself, his tone filled with resentment. “She’s stirring up trouble like this, but in the end, the ones getting embarrassed won’t be her—it’ll be us! It’ll be the Zhou family!”
As he spoke, he slapped the table with a heavy hand, startling the maids, who trembled in fear.
“She thinks she’s vented her anger? What a fool! Such narrow vision, relying on disgracing her own kin—does she think that’s satisfying?” Master Zhou ranted. “And what is there for her to resent? She was born a fool; if there’s blame, it lies with the Zhou family! The Zhou family! How much ridicule and contempt have we endured because of that imbecile?!”
He pointed toward the door, his voice rising in anger. “Because of her, everyone says the Zhou family is first-class in producing fools! A fool! People say foolishness runs in the Zhou family’s blood! Our sons struggle to find wives, our daughters can’t find husbands—who’s to blame? Her!”
As he spoke, he steadied himself against the table, trying to stand.
“That wretched curse! She should’ve been drowned at birth! Whose family wouldn’t drown such a child? But no, my soft-hearted mother and indulgent sister spared her, keeping her in this world!” he said, his figure swaying unsteadily.
The maids quickly stood to support him.
“Master, you’ve had too much to drink,” they said anxiously.
“Too much?” Master Zhou murmured, dazed. “What a fine tea! Seven cups and I’m drunk! Not even fine wine compares!”
He shoved the maids aside. “Bring me my sword,” he commanded, staggering toward the door.
“I’ll kill her right now! One death brings misfortune, so what’s the harm in two? I’ll kill her, apologize to the Tong family, and then head to Jiang-zhou to smash the Cheng family!”
The maids, terrified, scrambled to restrain and stop him.
Amidst the commotion, a burst of noise came from outside.
Master Zhou abruptly stopped in his tracks.
“Look, look! Dead, isn’t he? He’s dead, isn’t he?” he shouted, pointing toward the door.
Before his voice faded, faint cries and wails were carried in by the wind.
Footsteps and a clamor of voices approached from outside.
“Master! Master! He’s alive! He’s alive!” several young servants shouted as they ran in.
Master Zhou blinked in confusion.
“What?” He pushed the maids aside, walked to the door, and leaned against it, staring at the people in the courtyard.
“Master! Master! Miss has cured Tong Neihan!”
Master Zhou stared at them wide-eyed, and then suddenly slapped his thigh.
“My precious girl!” he exclaimed, lifting his foot to rush out, only to forget the threshold.
He tripped and tumbled straight out the door.
The people inside and out cried out in alarm, and the scene descended into chaos.
Chen Shao handed the freshly brewed tea to his father.
“So, there was a wandering Taoist who stayed near the temple?” Old Master Chen asked as he turned the tea bowl in his hands.
“Not exactly a wandering Taoist, and it’s hard to say who he really is,” Chen Shao replied. “The man hasn’t returned yet, but some rough news has come through. They say he’s been treating locals and even teaching a few children from poor families how to read.”
“How old is he?” Old Master Chen inquired.
“The letter says he’s around fifty or so,” Chen Shao answered.
Old Master Chen nodded.
“We’ll ask for more details when he gets back,” he said.
Footsteps echoed from outside.
“Master! Master!” A young servant ran in, his face brimming with joy. “Tong Neihan is alive!”
Chen Shao and his father exchanged a glance, both revealing smiles of delight.
“Of course,” Old Master Chen said with a calm and composed smile. “What’s there to be so astonished about?”
Chen Shao gave a faint smile, quietly wiping away the tea his father had inadvertently spilled.
Meanwhile, many households in the capital received similar news, and their shock was evident.
If the matter involving Chen Shao’s father had only caused mild surprise—after all, though he was said to be gravely ill and beyond saving, the fact that he lingered for so long made his survival less of a shock—then the situation with Tong Neihan was entirely different.
In this case, Tong Neihan had fallen into a coma after ingesting minerals and metals, a situation not uncommon among the wealthy families of the capital. His condition was severe and progressed rapidly. As the saying goes, “When the King of Hell calls for you at the third watch, who can keep you until the fifth?” Yet somehow, someone had managed to do just that. Not only had he survived, but he had returned to life.
“…It’s absolutely true. He was already dead when they carried him over…”
“…Even Doctor Li said to prepare for the funeral…”
“…It’s him again. Last time, it was also Doctor Li who said Old Master Chen couldn’t be saved, but Lady Cheng cured him. And now, the same thing happened…”
“…Could it be that Doctor Li is losing his touch?”
“…Or maybe Doctor Li is colluding with that Lady Cheng?”
At that moment, as the topic abruptly shifted to him, Doctor Li, who had just entered, gave a loud, deliberate cough.
The idle clerks chatting outside the Imperial Medical Institute scattered like startled birds.
“I refuse to believe this,” Doctor Li said with a huff. “Come, let’s go to the Tong household.”
Many people wanted to visit the Tong household, but the family had closed their doors to guests, allowing only close relatives inside—with the exception of Doctor Li.
“If not for your careful guidance, Doctor Li, my father would have truly faced grave danger this time,” the Tong family’s young men said sincerely.
As close aides to the emperor and seasoned writers of eloquent prose, the Tong family members were adept at speaking flattering words. After all, there was never such a thing as too much praise.
“Did Lady Cheng say that?” Doctor Li asked, eyeing them with suspicion.
Without hesitation, the Tong family members nodded.
“Nonsense,” Doctor Li scoffed. “She would never say such a thing.”
Although he was curious about her methods, Doctor Li had only met Lady Cheng a few times at the Chen household, adhering to the professional decorum of avoiding direct involvement.
Still, some people reveal their temperament with just a word or a glance.
That lady, praising others? Absolutely not.
Ignoring the young men’s chatter, he proceeded straight to check on Master Tong.
Inside the room, only Lady Tong, accompanied by a concubine, carefully attended to the patient.
As the sole woman present besides the main wife, the beautiful concubine showed no signs of weariness.
Just look outside—there were plenty of women eager to bear such “burdens,” but only she had earned this privilege.
From now on, she was the one most valued by the master’s wife, the one who had played a significant role in bringing the master back from the brink of death. Even when the master eventually passed on, no one would dare sell her off. On the contrary, she would be well taken care of and provided for.
Kneeling by the bedside, the concubine couldn’t hold back her tears. But unlike yesterday’s tears, these were tears of joy.
“Doctor Li has arrived,” Madam Tong announced, motioning for the concubine to step aside.
Doctor Li quickly walked to the bedside and leaned down to examine the patient.
Tong Neihan’s face was pale and wan, caught somewhere between wakefulness and unconsciousness. Doctor Li checked his pulse and inspected his tongue.
“Incredible,” he muttered to himself.
“How is he?” Madam Tong asked, her voice trembling.
That Lady Cheng was truly peculiar. From the start of the treatment to the end, she hadn’t inquired anything of the family. She merely had them carry the patient away and provided a jar of medicine, offering no further instructions.
“His life is no longer in danger,” Doctor Li said. “Give him time to recuperate and observe further.”
“That’s wonderful, Madam!” The concubine wept tears of joy. “If Doctor Li says there’s no hope, he may be wrong. But if he says there’s hope, it’s guaranteed. The master will be fine!”
What kind of nonsense was that? Doctor Li’s expression hardened.
